Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig. General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has indicated the new order demanding drug test is conducted on politicians, workers and students will provide urgent help for those who need treatment and rehabilitation, in addition to serving as deterrence.
He stated this in his remarks while signing a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with a firm, Primly Services Limited for the supply of free drug test kits to NDLEA.
This was contained in a statement by the director media and advocacy of the agency Femi Babafemi in Abuja on Friday.
The statement indicated that Marwa who was elated that the MoU was finally signed almost three years after the federal government had approved the deal said, “at the centre of drug demand reduction is drug testing.
“Practically, all Nigerians should be subjected to drug test; politicians, students, workers and all. We have set the ball rolling at the agency because charity begins at home.
“This will enable us know those afflicted, who need treatment and rehabilitation. Equally, it will deter drug abuse because if you know that the result of a drug test will hamper your progression in school, political career or at work, it will deter you.
“In the same vein, we do expect parents to make sure their children don’t get married to addicts by insisting on drug test before marriage,” he said.
Marwa expressed delight in the readiness by the Managing Director of Primly Services Ltd, Dr. Vincent Udenze to always contribute to efforts to rid Nigeria of illicit substances.
“In the course of PACEDA work, Primly Services was part of our resource persons and through that we got to know about this MoU, which had been approved by the Federal Government since 2019 and I’m surprised that up till 2021, it has not been executed until now.”
Thanking the firm for its professionalism and willingness to partner with NDLEA in fighting the drug scourge afflicting the country, Marwa said apart from the high quality of the test kits, they are coming at no cost to the agency, adding that the company will only recover its cost from testing.
“We should continue to look for more ways of cooperation to make Nigeria a drug free nation, which is a task that must be done.”
Speaking earlier, Dr. Udenze said apart from the test kits coming to NDLEA at no cost, “we will ensure that the kits are one of the best in the country and we will not fail in our duty in this regard.”